Sit Stay Read - Happy Tales for Wagging Tails

Dogs enable us to tackle the serious issue of childhood literacy in a fun way, and test score results prove that Sit Stay Read improves reading skills for children!

Reading to a dog increases confidence and generates excitement about reading. These trained dogs, assisted by dog-themed books and writing assignments, change a child's reading session from an abstract concept into a real life experience. Children get to read about a dog, see a dog, and touch a dog — an experience that leads to true and lasting learning.

Sit Stay Read's creative approach has shown results: the DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) oral reading frequency assessment test indicates significant improvement in classrooms enriched by Sit Stay Read volunteers, as compared to classrooms without. Programs are provided free of charge to public schools and community facilities serving low-income families in the city of Chicago. Sit Stay Read is looking to expand as resources become available.

$15.00 provides an at-risk child a one-on-one reading session with a Sit Stay Read dog team in a school or community program. Your donation through this Gift That Gives More™ covers books and writing supplies, as well as training for the dog and volunteer.

Report from the Classrooms!

Donations to this Gift That Gives More™ provided 416 individual reading sessions for second graders in the Sit Stay Read program during 2010 alone. Thank you for making this possible!

See the program in action here:

Are you in love yet? Meet Lucy, a Sit Stay Read Dog of the Year!

Lucy is a Spinone Italiano whose favorite children's book is 'Bark, George' by Jules Feiffer. When she's not crusading for children's literacy, Lucy loves to play on the beach with a bucket on her head. In addition to thoughtful listening to children as they become more confident readers, Lucy also loves tummy rubs and string cheese. Lucy says it best: "School is cool and reading is cool. If you can read, you can learn about everything in the world! If I could read, I would never be lonely or bored when my people leave the house. I would just read a book!"

We know. We are in love with Lucy, too.

Founded in 2003, Sit Stay Read brings teams of trained volunteers and certified dogs to inner-city Chicago schools and community facilities. Through a curriculum designed with the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Center for Literacy, Sit Stay Read improves reading fluency, makes reading fun, and inspires children to become lifelong readers, one tail wag at a time.

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